Clutch



May 16, 1933. H. 1.. TANNER 1,909,913

' CLUTCH Original med May 5, 1926 I N 5 U LAT l O N BY Her/47L Tanner ATTORNE Y6 INVENTOR Patented May'jlfi, 1933 i I I UNITED 4 STATES PATENTOFFICE many 1.. rum or new roax, America 110 roan ms'rnum'mr con-- rm,me, or more mm crrr, zmw roar, a comm-non or m rem;

more! Original application fled Kay 5', 1988, Serial Io. 10 6317.Divided and this application fled l'uly Mi This invention relates toclutches, and more particularl. to clutches electrically controlled todrive the output elements in reversibledirections at variable speeds.Such a clutch may be controlled in any desired manner, one suitablemeans being by a variable speed control mechanism of the type shown inthe parent application, Serial No. 106,917, filed May 5, 1926, of whichthis application is a division. v

,The principal object of this invention is to provide a device forproducing variable speed motion in reversible directions from a givensource of power supply. A further object is to reduce inertia e ects toa minimum so that changes in speed and complete reversals may be madequickly and'accurately. Such a device has many applications, a typicalone being in a follow-upsystem as disclosed in the parent applicationwhich provides a system having relatively movable primary (followed) andsecondary (follow-- er) elements, the latter being driven by a clutch ofthe type herein disclosed. A vibratory member may be used to control theclutch by rapidly varying the energization thereof proportionally to themovements of the primary element. Inasmuch as the members'cont'rollingboth forward and reverse directions of movement are energized by thevibratory 111 e and break action but for varying lengt of time dependingupon the direction of movement of the primary, the secondary element iscapable of instantaneoils and minutely variable movement so that asmooth positive following motion of the secondary element results.

Other objects'and advantages of this invention will become apparent fromthe following description of a'preferred embodiment of'the invention asillustrated by the accompanying drawing. v

- The single figure shows a reversing clutch mechanism which is thepreferred form of 'this invention, the same being connected to avariable speed control device as disclosed and claimed in the parentapplication.

Referring to the drawing, numeral 1 desigtype coils20 and 21 areconnected by lead 22 to nates a contact trolley or roller of conductingmaterial and which is connected toone side 2 of the electrical supplyline,the other side of which isdesignated 3. Contact roller 1 representsthe primary or followed element 1 of the system, the movements of whichare adapted to be followed by the secondary or following element, andwhich maybe repre-.

sented by commutator 4 consisting essential- ,l'y of spaced contacts 5and 6 mounted upon a block of insulating material. A pair of leads 7 and8 are attached tocontacts 5nd 6, respectively, and to magnetic vibratorcoils 9 and 10, respectively, whereby a lateral reclprocatory orvibratory motion is impart ed to member 4 as roller 1 engages either oneof contacts 5 or 6 and thus alternately energizes magnet coils 9 and 10,respectively.

The commutator 4; pivotally ,mounted' at 1 11 and carries an armature 12which is attracted to either magnet coil 9 or '10 according to whetherroller 1 e either one of contacts 5 or 6, r

armature 12 will be-drawn toward coil 9,

' thereby causing roller 1 to engage contact 6 2 ofthe electrical supplylineby lead 15 are a pair of resistances 16 and 17 which are adapted tobalance; conductors -5 and 6 respectively, so that there will be nosparlring as roller 1 moves between contacts 5 and 6. Resistances 16 and17 have an additional utility which. will be explained hereinafter.

Connected to vibratory coils .9 and 10 by means of leads 18 and 19 arethe opposite coils 20 and 21, respectively, of the electromagneticclutch which is preferably of the The terminals of clutch the. otherside-f the electrical supply line.

ive y. It will be seenthat when coil 9, or example, is energized byengagement of roller "1' with contact #1,.

I v responding accuracy results.

The clutch, being power driven, actuates the secondary element inaccordance with the movements of the primary element, inasmuchas theclutch is intermittently energized so that it imparts .a series ofpressure impulses of a varyin degree with extreme rapidity to the seconary element, which produce the effect of a constant and smooth followingmotion. Moreover, such rapidenergization and variable ressure of theclutch imparts great sensitivlty to the mechanism and a cor- If ahunting tendency between the primary and secondary. elements of thesystem develops, contact lever 23, which moves with the primary elementof the system to which roller 1 is connected, through the use andarrange-.

ment of means not shown, engages either one of contacts 24 or 25, whichare mounted on the secondary element and are connected to leads-'18 and19,resp.ectively. Inasmuch as contact lever 23 is connected to side 2 ofthe sistance 27, which is equivalentto the resistance of the circuitabove leads 18 and 19, a short circuit is established between line 2through resistance 27, lead 26, lever 23 and either contact 24"or toeither clutch coil 20 or 21, respectively. Accordingly, if asecondary-element carrying commutator 4, tends to 'hunt or overrun-toeither one side or the other, another circuit isesta-blished through theclutch coil ion the same side to increase the clutching effect orpressure, whereupon the secondary member is actuated to decrease thetime of return of roller 1 back to its centralpositiom;Accordinglymechanicaldamping is effected in the clutch and hunting isprevented as well as overrunning, masmuch as the reversal takes place 99out of phase with 'the movement of roller 1, that is, when roller- .1:is halfway' in its path to one side of its central position.

Resistances '16 and 17: are preferably so designed that clutch coils 20and 21 are never completely dei-energized, but'that there is a continualleakage through lead 15 and through resistances 16 and 17 when there isno relativejmovement between the primary and secondary elements, nor isone side of the clutch completely 'de -energized when the.

other side is energized and drawing the secondary element to follow themovements of the primary element; The purpose being that anysudden'energization or reversal in the energization 'f-rom one side ofthe clutchto P the other side isimmediately transmitted to the drivenparts without the delay common- 1y occasioned by'the' inertia of themoving parts. Such alternating energization, however, is insufiicient tocause any appreciable frictional resistance or dragging in the clutchwhen itis driving the secondary element,

' since the virtually continuous hunting of the clutch is too rapid forthe immediate responseelectrical supply line by lead 26, through reofthe secondary element, which accordingly;

-- and21 which are mounted in a clutch ring keyed upon and adapted tocontinually rotate with shaft 44, which is driven from "a suitable powersource. The "coils are connected, through slip rings; 7 5 on the ring45, to their respective brushes 52. and 54 and the common brush 53.Clutch rin'g4'5 also carries a pair of friction rings 58 and 59 whichare always in close proximity to friction discs 60 and 61 which aresecurel attachedfto gears 49- and 50, respectively. ears 49 and arefreely rotatable'on ball bearings, the respective inner races 62 and 63of which are slidably mounted on shaft 44. A slight axial motion betweenthe gear units 49 and 50 and shaft 44 is provided-for which issuflicient to allow gears 49 and 50 and their respective friction discsand 61 to be drawn into frictional engagement with friction rings 58 and59, respectively, as the electro-magnetic coils of the clutch areenergized. A--number of axially disposed pins 64 are slidably mounted inclutch ring 45 through friction discs 60 and 61, and their ends areembedded in or bear against the inner ball races 62 and 63 so that theyhave axial play. Accordingly, one disc is pushed away from, .itsfriction ring when the opposite disc is drawn to its friction rin'g dueto the energization of one of the magnet coils, thus effecting a rapidcoils and the electro-magnetic clutch-coils 20" clutching alternationfrom one side to ani In the manner hereinbefore described,-

each of the electro-magnetic coils is always at least slightly energizeddue to leakage in the electrical circuit, but such. energization isnotsuflicient to ofier resistance or dragging to the'rotatingv clutch rin45, but is intended to maintaineach one 0 ffriction discs 60 and 61' inintimate proximity to their re.- spective friction rings58 and 59, sothat there may be no delay between thetime of energization andclutching, and thus a smooth motion of the follower'is obtained sincethe I pressure of the clutch varies as the degree of energization. Forthe same reason the masses of the moving clutching parts, namely discs60'and 61 and gears 49 and 50, are

inertia is negligible.

If the member to which the roller -1 is conpreferably. as smallas'possible so that their nected suddenly reverses its direction ofconveyingmeans operable with each of said movement and turns in theopposite direction, roller 1 will move to engage the opposite contact,such as contact 6 or example, and the circuit will be made primarilythrough lead 8, vibrator coil .10, lead 19, clutch coil 21 and lead 22to the other side 3 'of electrical supply line, but the vibrator willcontinuously operate to control the clutch as long as the movement ofthe roller continues. The energization of clutch coil 21, probablyaugmented an instant later by the circuit established between lever 23and contact 25 due to' the overrunning tendency of the suddenreversal,.clutches disc 61 to friction ring 59, and the direction ofrotation of shaft 42 is reversed through gears 50, 68, 66 and 51.Inasmuch as shaft 44is driving clutch ring 45 at constant; speed, and asthe speed of the primary element usually varies periodically, there isnecessarily some slip.- page between clutch rin 45 and friction discsand61 so that t e actual primary input speed may. be reproducedaccurately. It is obvious that alarger motor or power source maybeutilized whereby a greater power and a larger torque may be supplied tothe following motion.

While only one stepin the omation of the system in both directions has11 described in detail, it'is evident that the successive steps areinstantaneous and continuousas the primary element moves, and also thatwhile a preferred embodiment of this invention has I been illustratedand described, it is to be understood that modifications in design and,detail may be freely'made and that other forms of apparatus -may belikewise con-. trolled without de arting from the spirit of' thisinvention wi pended claims.

I claim: 1 In a clutch,

' the scope of the apa shaft, a double electromagnet secured thereon,revoluble armatures on opposite sides of said magnet adapted to bemagnetically clutched therewith, rotary members combined with saidarmatures,bearing carriers mounted onsaid shaft and displaceable axiallythereof,- anti-friction bearg inte tary mem rs displaceable with theformer and rotatively mounting the latter, powerrotary members, operablemeans connected with each power-conveying means for differentdirectional actuation, and means to selectively energizesaid-electromagnetsf 2. In a clutch, a' shaft, a double electromagnetsecured thereon, axiallydisplaceable rotary members on opposite sides ofsaidmagnet adapted to be magnetically clutched therewith and rotatedthereby, friction gripping means interposed betweeneach of the rotarymembers and its respective magnet side, powe r conveying means operablewith each of between said carriers and rotherebetween, a multisaidrotaryv members, operable means connected with each power conveyingmeans for different directional actuation and means to selectivelyenergize said electro-magnets, said axially displaceable members eachcomprising a shouldered bushing mounted on said shaft, a concentricallyarranged multi-elemnt anti-friction bearing having its inner elementmounted on'said bushing and abutn rotary members on opposite sides ofsaid magnet adapted-to be magnetically clutched therewith and rotatedthereby, friction "p ping' means interposed between each o t he rotarymembers and its respective magnet side, a power conveying gear trainoperable with each rotary member, operable .means connected witheachgear train for different directional actuation and means to selec tivelyenergize said ele'ctromagnets,.each,of said axially displaceable rotarymembers comprising-a shouldered bushing omounted on said shaft with itsshoulder the magnet side, a concentrica y I arranged multi-elementanti-friction bea havlng its inner element mounted on sai bushingroximate to and abutting the shoulder thereof, an annular gear mountedon the outer element of the anti-friction bearing and meshin with a gearof said gear train, and an ann ar armature disc" removably mounted onthe side of said annular gear proximate the magnet side said armaturedisc extending inwardly beyond the inner periphery of said annular gearto serve as an abutment for said outer anti-friction bearing element andextending outward- 1y beyond the untoothed portion of the annu- I largear to serve as a'stop to limit the axial mounted on said cylindricalmember and rotatable therewith, radially spaced annular recesses in eachside of said ring, electro-magnet coils in the inner of said annular andfrictional gripping rings fixedly held in the other yond the sides ofthe clutch ring. integral flanges extending beyond the outside perlphcryof said clutch ring de a ring recessringinsaidringrecesgslipringsinsaidrecexes electrically connected tosaid magnet coils, armatures on opposite sides of said movement of theaxially displaceable rotary wwcwu: extending outwardly beinsulationclutch ring, each armature havinga plane surface opposite a planesurface the adjacent frictional gripping ring, power-conveying mechanismconnected with each armature,

5 a power output member connected with and reversely operable by thedifierent powerconveying V mechanisms, and -means to selectivelyenergize said coils.

5. In a clutch, rotatable driving anddriven elements comprisingelectro-magnets and armatures therefor, bearings. mounting said drivenelements and provided with members I continuously connected to androtatable with a the driving element and displaceable longitudinally ofthe axis of rotation thereof, means to selectively energize said magnetsto attract their respective armatures, frictional gripping meansinterposed between each mag-- net and its armature and carried by one ofthem and reversely operable means connected with and adapted to bereversely operated by difierent armatures whenthey are attracted.-

' In testimony whereof I-afiix my signature.

- HARRY L. TANNER.

